The Frailty of Maturing Faith

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34).

I’ve often wondered why the Lord allows us to linger here in this temporal world for so long after we come to faith in Christ. After all, there is a great celebration in heaven every time a repentant sinner trusts in Christ… “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Why aren’t we immediately invited to the party? Instead we labor and struggle to grow in faith and holiness here in this unholy world. As I’ve grown in the faith I’ve learned there are many good reasons why the Lord prolongs our stay here and today the Holy Spirit gives us some revelation into a primary purpose for this earthly life. You see, Jesus did not take the disciples with Him when He returned to His Father, and He lets us linger here on earth too, in order to mature and refine our faith. Heaven is indeed a glorious place and we are being prepared for a unique and fulfilling life and work there… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). To help growing disciples here in this temporal training camp, Jesus shares three important truths about the frailty of maturing faith.

Maturing faith is the target of Satan’s persecution. He is the relentless adversary of all who desire to grow in the faith and to grow up into Christ… “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). The life of maturing discipleship is all about becoming more like Christ… “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Nothing infuriates the devil more than a bunch of growing, Christ-reflecting disciples, advancing the kingdom of God, and he releases his full fury against us as our faith matures. But we are not deterred because we know Jesus Christ has defeated the devil… “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). The attacks of the adversary are turned back on him by Christ, the defender of maturing faith!

Maturing faith is the victim of fleshly pride. A most obvious sign of growing faith is the Holy Spirit’s strengthening of our spirit as we are conformed to the image of Christ. But our flesh, the natural, world-loving part of our nature resists the spirit’s growing power and control… “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Galatians 5:17). What are we to do in the midst of this war? Choose sides! We have chosen Christ, now let us choose His holiness and surrender our flesh to the Spirit… “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). When we put the flesh to death by refusing to feed its unholy desires, Christ gives us victory over it… “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). We grow in holiness through Christ’s victory over our fleshly pride.

Maturing faith is the motivation of Christ’s prayers. The truth that Jesus prays is an astounding revelation! The Son prays (Greek: deomai – begs, beseeches, petitions) the Father on behalf of maturing disciples like Peter, like you, and like me! When I consider everything else that Christ is constantly doing, I am amazed that when I exercise my puny but growing faith, He is moved to pray for me. When we are tested by the soul-sifting trials of this life, it is our faith that is refined and strengthened… “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Jesus prays for us because He desires that even our weak but growing faith may bring glory to His father.

As we grow up into Christ, His precious grace provokes and preserves our growth despite…

The Frailty of Maturing Faith.